Mets, Padres Last to Have No “No-No”; Close Calls Foiled by Journeyman Doyle

After being denied a hit on two occasions in 2010, the Rays were finally on the celebratory end of the accomplishment when Matt Garza no hit the Tigers yesterday. Garza’s feat also removed the Rays from the dwindling list of teams that have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter. Earlier in the season, Ubaldo Jiminez became the first Rockies’ pitcher to throw a no-no, so now the only two franchises without one are the Padres and Mets.

Denny Doyle is a big reason why the Mets and Padres have never had a no-hitter.

The Mets have famously gone over 48 seasons without a no-hitter, but they have had a couple of near misses. On both occasions, July 9, 1969 and July 4, 1972, Tom Seaver took a no-hitter into the ninth, but surrendered a single just two outs shy of glory. Seaver would eventually go on to record his no-hitter, but not with the Mets. Tom Terrific no-hit the Cardinals as a member of the Reds on June 16, 1978, almost one year from the day he was famously traded by the Mets.

In total, the Mets have had 33 one-hitters (34 including Bobby Jones’ gem against the Giants in the 2000 NLDS), 23 of which were complete games of at least nine innings. Included on that list was a kind of reverse near miss in which Nolan Ryan surrendered a lead off single to journeyman second baseman Denny Doyle (remember the name) and then kept the Phillies out of the hit column for the remainder of the game.

The Padres, who entered the National League seven years after the Mets, have also endured a long stretch of no-hitter futility. After only three-plus years in existence, however, they did come within one out of accomplishing the feat in a game against the Phillies on July 18, 1972. On that date, Steve Arlin took a no-hitter two outs into the ninth, but a single by our good friend Denny Doyle once again spoiled the effort. Arlin’s brush with immortality wasn’t a fluke, as his effort against the Phillies was the third time in four starts that he pitched at least nine innings while surrendering no more than two hits. He never could seal the deal, however, so the Padres still wait for their first no-hitter.

So, while the other 28 franchises enjoy their slices of baseball history, they’d be wise to cherish the accomplishments and have sympathy for the Mets and Padres because there, but for the grace of Denny Doyle, go them all.

The record for most no-hitters by a pitcher is Nolan Ryan with 7, giving him more than 14 teams.

Bobo Holloman is the only pitcher to throw a hitter in his first major league start. Holloman had previously pitched 4 games in relief before no-hitting the Philadelphia Athletics on May 6, 1953.

There have been 20 perfect games (12 in the AL and 8 in the NL), including Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. The Yankees’ three perfect games are the most by any franchise.

The Cincinnati Reds Johnny Vander Meer is the only pitcher to throw two consecutive no-hitters. Vander Meer no hit the Boston Braves on June 11, 1938 and then four days later no hit the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first night game ever played at Ebbets Field.

Thirteen pitchers have thrown nine no-hit innings before giving one up in extra innings.

The only Opening Day no-hitter was thrown by the Cleveland Indians’ Bob Feller on April 16, 1940 against the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago Cubs haven’t been no hit in the last 44 seasons (since Sandy Koufax’ perfect game against them in 1965). The record for most consecutive season without being no-hit is 45, accomplished by the Yankees between 1958 and 2003.

The Philadelphia Phillies hold the record for most consecutive seasons without a no-hitter. Jim Bunning’s perfect game against the Mets on June 21, 1964 broke the Phillies’ string of 57 years without a no hitter.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a no hitter in each season between 1962 and 1965, a record for most consecutive seasons. Sandy Koufax was responsible for all four of the Dodgers’ no-hitters.

In 2010, the Rays became the 10th team to be no hit twice in one season, as well as the first team to be involved in three no hitters.